HEALING BY FAITH

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 6

HEALING BY FAITH

CHURCH PEOPLE WARNED. FALLACY OF ARGUMENT. “The question of so-called faith-heal-ing is still before the public rather prominently, and is causing a certain amount of discussion,” writes “Sigma” in the Church Gazette, the official organ for the Auckland Anglican Diocese. “It may be well to consider certain aspects of the question' here, seeing that some members of our communion have been led away by the excitement engendered. “Possibly, timely warning may prevent others from going the same road. Jt becomes a duty, .occasionally, to join in the effort to drive away all erroneous and strange doctine contrary to God’s Word.” It is added that a report of certain utterances had been published and had so far not been contradicted. The words were as follows: “The church teaches that God raised up doctors, ’nurses and hospitals. It is a lie —we have Jesus. We need neither doctors, nurses nor operations. The ministers are blind of the blind, lying prophets, praying prayers they do not believe. They are not straight, are they ?” The article goes on to say: “This is sheer nonsense, and no one knows the fact better than the originator of the “New Truth,’ as it is called. He himself would assuredly seek medical aid and careful nursing if seriously injured in an accident. The fallacy in his present position is evident. “The great issues of life and death are in God’s hands, of course, but H? has so made the world that man must do the best he can at ajl times to help himself. Then, and then only, can he reverently seek God’s blessing. If we ask for daily bread, we must work. If we would be warm and comfortable, we must make dwellings and weave clothing. And if, when sick, we desire to be healed, we must seek the best medical aid and secure the best nursing available.

“If no doctors or operations are needed, why did God provide all the remedies for sickness that are so efficacious when properly administered or applied? The law takes the same sane view of the position. And if anyone else, who declares that doctors and operations are not needed, refuses to give first aid to a man bleeding to death, he is rightly held responsible for callous neglect. “But how absurd the ‘New Truth’ appears when viewed in the light of Holy Scripture! Our Saviour declared that 'they that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick,’ thus giving His endorsement to the work of the physician, “The greatest and best reason for medical aid, doctors, nurses, surgeons, hospitals and operations lies in the healing minirtry of Christ Himself. Just as He forgave that we might learn to forgive, 'fed the hungry that we might learn charity, made Himself a Servant that we might realise service, so He healed the sick to teach us our duty.